Children's Shows

“Treehouse Shakers creates children’s dance-theater of the highest caliber. The performers' sense of wonder and pleasure in performing is infectious, and I’ve seen them establish rapport with children of all ages, from toddlers to teens.”
-Aviva Geismar, Artistic Director, Drastic Action


Birthday Parties: Looking for something new for your next birthday party.

Now Playing...

View the Current Performance Calendar

Past Performances


COYOTE'S DANCE

 

Photo by Mercedes McAndrew


AND...

DESERT TRAVELS

Tales From the Middle East

 

Photo by Mercedes McAndrew


AND...

ANIMAL RHYTHMS

Two African Folktales

 

Photo by Mickey Pantano




Scroll down to see show descriptions.

ANIMAL RHYTHMS
November 12-18, 2006
Mesa, Arizona Tour

ANIMAL RHYTHMS
December 5, 2006
9:30 and 10:45am
The King Street School
Port Chester, NY

ANIMAL RHYTHMS
December 7, 2006
2:30pm
Video Cast
Giggles Theater
St. Joe’s Hospital
Patterson, NJ

STORYTELLING
December 8, 2006
Gateway School
New York City, NY

ANIMAL RHYTHMS
December 9, 2006
2:30pm
Private Event
Flemington, NJ

2007 Performance Schedule


ANIMAL RHYTHMS
February 6, 2007
Pear Tree Point School
9:45am and 11am
Darien, CT


ANIMAL RHYTHMS
February 9, 2007
10:00am
Paramount Theater
Peekskill, NY


DESERT TRAVELS
March 1, 2007
2 Performances!
Western Wyoming Community College Theater
Rock Springs, WY
Times: 9:30am and 7:30pm
Tickets: Call 307-382-1600
The company will teach workshops in the first grades the week before.



ANIMAL RHYTHMS
April 23, 2007
P.S. 329
Brooklyn, NY


ANIMAL RHYTHMS
May 5, 2007
Tribeca Film Festival Family Day
Free performances all day
Location TBA
New York, NY


COYOTE'S DANCE
May 12, 2007
2:00pm
Alden Theater
McLean, VA


DESERT TRAVELS
May 24, 2007
School 23
Yonkers, NY


ANIMAL RHYTHMS

 2 Performances:

June 5, 2007 @ 9:30am
in collaboration with Early Stages

&

June 10, 2007 @ 11:00am
Reception to follow
Tickets: $15
Visit www.here.org or call 212.352.3101
HERE Arts Center
145 Sixth Ave. btwn Spring/Broome enter on Dominick
Subway: C/E to Spring St.; 1/9 to Houston St.; N/R to Prince St.


ANIMAL RHYTHMS
July 11, 2007
10:30am
Forest Park
Woodhaven, NY
Free to the public
Visit City of New York Parks and Recreation


ANIMAL RHYTHMS
September 15, 2007
Hosted by New York City Children’s Services and the Parent Advisory Work Group
Carnivale on the Hudson
Third Annual Family Fun Day
Riverbank State Park
145th St. & Hudson
1:45 PM
New York, NY


ANIMAL RHYTHMS
December 7, 2007
St. Margaret's School
9:30 AM
66-10 80th Ave.
Middle Village, NY


2008 Performance Schedule:

COYOTE'S DANCE
January 12, 2008
3:00pm
DeBaun Auditorium
5th St. and Hudson St.
Hoboken, NJ


ANIMAL RHYTHMS
February 1, 2008
Siwanoy School
2:00pm
Pelham, NY


DESERT TRAVELS
February 15, 2008
Greenacres School
9:30am
Scarsdale, NY


COYOTE'S DANCE
February 27, 2008
2 Performances!
Western Wyoming Community College Theater
Rock Springs, WY
Times: 9:30am and 7:30pm
Tickets: Call 307-382-1600
The company will teach workshops in the schools the week before.





COYOTE'S DANCE
 March 18, 2008
10:00am and 12:30pm
Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
Bloomington, IL


COYOTE'S DANCE
March 19, 2008
9:45am and 12:00pm
Cincinnati Arts Association
Aronoff Center for the Arts
Cincinnati, OH



COYOTE'S DANCE
TREEHOUSE SHAKERS' NEW YORK SEASON

Public Performances:
Sundays, APRIL 13th and May 18th, 2008
11:00 AM

School Performances:
APRIL 8th, 29th, 30th, 2008
10:00 AM

Tickets: $15, cash or checks only
Reservations: 212-715-1914 or
contactus@treehouseshakers.com
Call for school discount rates and info.

The Ailey Citigroup Theater
The Joan Weill Center for Dance
405 West 55th Street
New York City, NY

Special Benefit Reception following the APRIL 13th Performance
Tickets: $100 includes ticket to show and reception RSVP by April 1st

Subway Directions:
A, C, 1, B, D to Columbus Circle or Q, N, R to 57th St./7th Ave.



DESERT TRAVELS
July 16, 2008
Bickford Theater
11:30am and 1:00pm
Morristown, NJ
Morris Museum



--

“Both my grandson and I really enjoyed the performance. You all did a great job. Now a days it's tough to tear a child away from computer games, WII games, Nintendo and their TVs. Your wonderfully talented group not only kept my 6 year grandson's attention, but he sat with eyes wide open and at times mouth too. He couldn't stop talking about it and wouldn't let me forget to have his picture taken with the cast.”
-Chris Carbillano

--

“Treehouse Shakers creates fantastic dance/theater performances for children that has the subtlety and artistry that engages their adult companions. I went on my own, without a child and loved it....”
-Jackie Pine, Executive Director Early Stages, Inc.

---

Now in Repertory


All listed shows have been Written by Mara McEwin and Choreographed by Emily Bunning.

Booking 2007-2008!

 

COYOTE'S DANCE
Tales of The American Indian

 


Photo by Mercedes McAndrew

 

 

"In the captivating Coyote's Dance, an interactive spectacle, the proud, clever coyote of American Indian legend is being imaginatively incarnated by Treehouse Shakers."
 Laurel Graeber, New York Times


Retold By Mara McEwin
Choreographed By Emily Bunning
Drum Composition By Roderick Jackson
Music By ULALI
Costumes By Patti Gilstrap
Running Time: 45 minutes
Performers: 2 Actors, 3 Dancers, 1 Drummer

Cast
Emily Bunning, Caroline Edelen, Roderick Jackson, Kristy Kuhn, Mara McEwin, and Sarah Young

Coyote’s Dance envelops the culture and story of Coyote, whose exploits are recounted among many of the North American Indian nations. Audiences follow Coyote, who is both clown and teacher, on a humorous journey of deceit and adventure. Coyote’s Dance is performed in native-influenced costumes, headdresses and a lively mixture of movement-styles from various Indian nations. The dance-play expresses the remarkable vitality of the cultures to which these stories belong. Coyote’s Dance is excellent for all ages, and can be presented with additional workshops that include; drumming, storytelling and dance tailored to accommodate the appropriate age range.


Desert Travels: Tales from Middle East

 


Photo by Mercedes McAndrew

 

 

 

Desert Travels is a performance mosaic of modern dance, storytelling and live music that will sweep audiences across the desert on a magic carpet of stories. Join in these heart-warming Middle Eastern folktales as rats marry princesses, storks speak and the desert sand becomes a tent, lending lessons of generosity, forgiveness and cooperation.

Cast
Retold by Mara McEwin
Choreographed by Emily Bunning
Music Composed by Mark Sopchak
Percussion Composed and Performed by Roderick Jackson
Costumes: Patti Gilstrap and Laura Stinger and Andrea Gastelum
Performers: Stephanie Angelil, Kristy Kuhn, Sarah Young, Mara McEwin, and Emily Bunning

Premiered 2004 at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange in Brooklyn, NY
Running Time: 45 minutes
Perfomers: 2 Actors, 3 Dancers, 1 Drummer

 

ANIMAL RHYTHMS

Two African Folktales

 

Photo by Mickey Pantano

ANIMAL RHYTHMS

Cast
Dancers: Emily Bunning, Kristy Kuhn, and Sarah Young
Actors: Larissa Laurel, Mara McEwin
Drummer: Roderick Jackson
Costumes: Kate Cusack
Original Music: Mark Sopchak

Premiered 2002 at the LIFE Homeless Shelter, NYC
Running Time: 40 minutes
Performers: 2 Actors, 3 Dancers, 1 Drummer
Ages 2 and up

Through the use of body drumming, modern dance and storytelling, Animal Rhythms follows several animals as they learn about helping, sharing and friendship. Children explore rhythm as they create the sounds of the ancient story drum using their own bodies, and are introduced to modern dance through the Afro-influenced movements of the characters onstage. Tailored workshops can also be booked with performances.

 



*All Performances include Teacher’s Guides upon request as well as additional classroom workshops. Please call Mara McEwin at (212) 715-1914 for booking or additional information.

 

Past Repertory:

 

End of Winter

Ages 4-10
This interactive dance-play follows a little girl named Claris, her best friend a city pigeon, and a snowflake as they journey to stop the evil witch Puewina Pollution and her little frog, Smog from destroying the dancing seasons. We need your help to save Mother Earth!

 

Flying Through Rainbows

Ages 2-5

Flying Through Rainbows has created so much fun with the original 26 letters it makes you long for more! Laurel Graeber of The New York Times

The story of the letter "O" comes to life as she searches for her true identity. "O" dances through a visual world of on-site painters as her journey takes her through jungles, forests, cliffs, grasslands, the sun, the moon and the rainbows along the way!

 

We are happy to book any of our past performances. If you are a school, community center, festival or theatre, our company can travel to your site. We book 3 months in advance. Please call Mara McEwin at (212) 715-1914 or email us at:
contactus@treehouseshakers.com

 

Treehouse Shakers
Radio City Station
P.O. Box 186
New York, NY 10101-0186
(212) 715-1914
contactus@treehouseshakers.com

Emily Bunning, Artistic Coordinator "Mover"
Mara McEwin, Artistic Director "Shaker"

site design:
Wade Hampton
 wade@transflux.com